• 10 June 2005: Mayor Sue McCloud’s letter to all property owners with properties on the City’s Inventory of Historic Resources, as follows:
CITY HALL
BOX CC
CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, CALIFORNIA 93921
10 June 2005
Dear Property Owner,
As you may know from reading the local paper, the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea recently achieved certification of its Local Coastal Program (LCP) by the California Coastal Commission. One important part of the approved LCP is the identification and preservation of local historic resources. These are an essential cultural link with our past that current and future generations can learn from and enjoy. Historic resources also contribute to our community character and to the City’s diversity of architecture.
The purpose of this letter is to inform you that, as part of a City-wide survey, the City completed an evaluation of your Carmel property and has determined that it qualifies as an historic resource. California State law requires that such determinations be filed with the County Recorder. This process will commence on 1 July 2005. Enclosed are some documents to help you understand the significance of your property and answer questions that you may have about Carmel’s historic preservation program.
Approximately ten percent of all properties in Carmel-by-the-Sea were found to qualify as historic. Like you, I too own a home in Carmel that was identified as historic; I consider it a source of pride. Carmel has a fascinating history, filled with interesting people, events and cultural achievements. Our historic resources help each resident and visitor understand this vibrant past and better appreciate this wonderful place.
If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact a member of the City’s planning staff at 831-620-2010.
Sincerely,
Sue McCloud,
Mayor
• 23 January 2006: The unanimous vote of the Historic Resources Board to remove 43 historic resources, as a group, from the City’s Inventory of Historic Resources. Selected excerpts from the Historic Resources Board’s meeting, as follows:
CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
HISTORIC RESOURCES BOARD
MINUTES
23 January 2006
IV. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
1. Consideration of a Board policy regarding the review of potential historic resources built after 1940.
Brian Roseth, Principal Planner presented the staff report.
Board member Lagerholm moved to accept Option #2 - Remove all post-1940 properties from the Inventory of Historic Resources pending completion of an update of the Historic Context Statement, seconded by Dyar and carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COSS, DYAR, HOLZ, LAGERHOLM, WENDT
NOES: NONE
Mayor McCloud was instrumental, if not the instigator, in the “illegal” removal of 43 historic resources, as a group, from the City’s Inventory of Historic Resources by the Historic Resources Board.
• May 2006 – October 2006: Between 2 May 2006 and 3 October 2006, Mayor McCloud voted to grant 7 appeals and deny 1 appeal, of a total of 8 historic appeals to the City Council. Thus, she voted 7 of 8 times to overturn decisions of the Historic Resources Board, thereby removing these properties from the City’s Inventory of Historic Resources.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
May 2, 2006
VIII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
#1. Resource Name: E. P. Young Spec. House
C. Consideration of an appeal of the Historic Resources Board’s decision to deny a request to remove a property located on the west side of Carmelo, between Eleventh and Twelfth Avenues from the city’s Inventory of Historic Resources. The appellant and property owner is David Hall.
Council Member HAZDOVAC moved to approve the appeal of the Historic Resources Board’s decision and to remove the property located on the west side of Carmelo, between Eleventh and Twelfth Avenues from the City’s inventory of historic resources, seconded by Council Member BETHEL and carried by the following roll call:
AYES: BETHEL, CUNNINGHAM, HAZDOVAC & McCLOUD
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: ROSE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
June 6, 2006
VIII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
#2. Resource Name: Wild Cottage
B. Consideration of an appeal of the Historic Resources Board’s decision to deny a request to remove a property located in the Single Family Residential (R-1) District from the City's Inventory of Historic Resources (Norman and Eleanor Moscow, W/s Camino Real bet. 11th & 12th, Blk R, Lot 11 & 13, APN: 010-274- 005).
Council Member ROSE moved to overturn the decision of Historic Resources Board and to remove the property located in the Single Family Residential (R-1) District from the City’s Inventory of Historic Resources, seconded by Council Member HAZDOVAC and carried by the following roll call:
AYES: BETHEL, CUNNINGHAM, HAZDOVAC, ROSE & McCLOUD
NOES: NONE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
June 6, 2006 & October 3, 2006
VIII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
#3. Resource Name: Palo Alto Savings and Loan Building
F. Consideration of an appeal of a decision of the Historic Resources Board placing a commercial structure, known as the Palo Alto Savings and Loan building, on the Carmel Inventory of Historic Resources. The building is located on the southeast corner of Seventh Avenue and Dolores Street. The property owner is the Pacific Grove Land Company. The appellant and project designer is John Mandurrago.
Council Member ROSE moved to grant the appeal and remove the commercial structure, known as the Palo Alto Savings and Loan building, from the Carmel Inventory of Historic Resources, seconded by Council Member CUNNINGHAM and carried by the following roll call:
AYES: BETHEL, CUNNINGHAM & ROSE
NOES: HAZDOVAC & McCLOUD
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
July 11, 2006
VIII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
#4. Resource Name: E. M. White House No. 4
B. Consideration of an appeal of the Historic Resources Board’s decision to deny a request to remove a property located on the west side of San Antonio between Ocean & 4th Avenues from the City’s Inventory of Historic Resources. The appellant and property owner is Alfred Johnson.
Council Member ROSE moved to grant the appeal, overturn the decision of the Historic Resources Board and remove the property from the City’s Historic Inventory, seconded by Council Member HAZDOVAC and carried by the following roll call:
AYES: BETHEL, HAZDOVAC, ROSE & McCLOUD
NOES: CUNNINGHAM
#5. Resource Name: DeSabla Horse Barn
C. Consideration of an appeal of the Historic Resources Board’s decision to deny a request to remove a property located on the west side of Carpenter between 3rd & 4th Avenues from the City’s Inventory of Historic Resources. The appellant and property owner is Doreen Silva.
Council Member HAZDOVAC moved to grant the appeal, overturn the decision of the Historic Resources Board and remove the property from the City’s Historic Inventory, seconded by Council Member ROSE and carried by the following roll call:
AYES: BETHEL, CUNNINGHAM, HAZDOVAC
ROSE & McCLOUD
NOES: NONE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
August 8, 2006
VIII. Public Hearings
#6. Resource Name: Daniel T. Fiske House
B. Consideration of an appeal of the Historic Resources Board’s decision to deny a request to remove a property located on the east side of Casanova Street between 7th and 8th Avenues from the City’s Inventory of Historic Resources. The appellant is William G. Doolittle and the property owner is the William G. Doolittle Trust.
Council Member HAZDOVAC moved to grant the appeal, overturn the decision of the Historic Resources Board and remove the property from the City’s Historic Inventory, seconded by Council Member ROSE and carried by the following roll call:
AYES: BETHEL, CUNNINGHAM, HAZDOVAC, ROSE & McCLOUD
NOES: NONE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
September 12, 2006
VIII. Public Hearings
#7. Resource Name: Herron Cottage & Tree House
B. Consideration of an appeal of the Historic Resources Board’s decision
to deny a request to remove a property located on the northeast corner of
Casanova & Ninth Avenue from the City’s Inventory of Historic
Resources. The appellant and property owner is Schatzi Joy.
Council Member HAZDOVAC moved to grant the appeal, overturn the decision of the Historic Resources Board and remove the property from the City’s Historic Inventory, seconded by Council Member BETHEL and carried by the following roll call:
AYES: BETHEL, HAZDOVAC, ROSE & McCLOUD
NOES: CUNNINGHAM
#8. Resource Name: Alice Meckenstock House
C. Consideration of an appeal of the Historic Resources Board’s decision
to deny a request to remove a property located on the east side of
Lincoln between 7th & 8th Avenues from the City’s Inventory of Historic
Resources. The appellant and property owner is Diane Sena.
Council Member ROSE moved to grant the appeal, overturn the decision of the Historic Resources Board and remove the property from the City’s Historic Inventory, seconded by Council Member HAZDOVAC and carried by the following roll call:
AYES: BETHEL,CUNNINGHAM, HAZDOVAC, ROSE & McCLOUD
NOES: NONE
• 8 August 2006: Mayor McCloud voted to deny Mr. and Mrs. David Hutchings a Mills Act Contract and a Maintenance and Management Plan for their historic residence, the Elizabeth F. Armstrong House #2. The Mills Act Contract is an integral part of the Local Coastal Program; the Planning Staff recommended approval of a Mills Act Contract and Maintenance and Management Plan for Mr. and Mrs. David Hutchings.
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-
August 8, 2006
VIII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Consideration of a Mills Act Contract and a Maintenance and Management Plan
for an existing historic residence located on the west side of Lincoln Street
between 8th & 9th Avenues. The property owners are David & Debbie Hutchings.
Council Member CUNNINGHAM moved to deny a Mills Act Contract and a Maintenance and Management Plan for an existing historic residence located on the west side of Lincoln Street between 8th & 9th Avenues based on the failure to meet Criteria 3 F., seconded by Mayor McCloud. carried by the following roll call:
AYES: CUNNINGHAM, HAZDOVAC & McCLOUD
NOES: BETHEL & ROSE
• 3 October 2006: Mayor McCloud voted against the majority, voting to deny the appeal; her vote was to uphold the Historic Resources Board’s decision to keep the Palo Alto Savings and Loan building on the City’s Inventory of Historic Resources. This represents the only appeal McCloud has voted on to uphold the Historic Resources Board’s decision.
City Council
Regular Meeting
October 3, 2006
VIII. Public Hearings
A. Consideration of an appeal of the Historic Resources Board determining
that the former Palo Alto Savings and Loan building is historically
significant and listing the property on the Carmel Inventory of Historic
Resources. The appellant is John Mandurrago representing the Pacific
Grove Land Company. The property is identified as Block 91 Lots 2, 4,
6 & 8.
Council Member ROSE moved to grant the appeal, overturn the decision of the Historic Resources Board and remove the property from the City’s Historic Inventory, seconded by Council Member CUNNINGHAM and carried by the following roll call:
AYES: BETHEL, CUNNINGHAM & ROSE
NOES: HAZDOVAC & McCLOUD
SUMMARY:
In June 2005, Mayor Sue McCloud wrote a letter to approximately 300 historic property owners stating, “Approximately ten percent of all properties in Carmel-by-the-Sea were found to qualify as historic. Like you, I too own a home in Carmel that was identified as historic; I consider it a source of pride.” Seven months later, in January 2006, she instigates or tacitly allows for the “illegal” removal of 43 historic properties, as a group, from the City’s Inventory of Historic Resources. Then, between May 2006 and October 2006, she votes to grant 7 of 8 appeals to remove properties from the Inventory of Historic Resources. In August 2006, she votes to deny Mr. and Mrs. David Hutchings a Mills Act Contract and Maintenance and Management Plan, an integral part of the Local Coastal Plan. And just recently, on 3 October 2006, she votes again to uphold the Historic Resources Board’s decision to place the Palo Alto Savings and Loan building on the City’s Inventory of Historic Resources; the only occasion she has voted to uphold a Historic Resources Board’s decision.
COMMENTS:
Regarding historic preservation, Mayor McCloud has a “Do as I Say, Not as I Do” record. Simply put, McCloud wrote to 300 historic property owners, informing them that she too owns an historic residence and considers it a “source of pride.” But, after one third of the historic property owners filed appeals to remove their respective properties from the City’s Inventory of Historic Resources, McCloud reverted to damage control mode, voting to grant all historic appeals to the City Council, except the Palo Alto Savings and Loan building appeal, thereby removing properties from the Inventory of Historic Resources.
Another example of Mayor McCloud’s “Do as I Say, Not as I Do” record; Mayor McCloud takes pride in the 2004 certification of the City’s Local Coastal Program, which includes a Mills Act Contract provision. Yet, when a staff recommended Mills Act Contract is placed on a City Council agenda, she voted to deny Mr. and Mrs. David Hutchings a Mills Act Contract, substituting her opinion on whether Mr. and Mrs. Hutchings are deserving of a Mills Act Contract or not, instead of fairly and objectively applying the Mills Act Contract criteria, on a case-by-case basis.
Another thought to ponder; Prior to the city’s submittal of the Local Coastal Program to the California Coastal Commission for certification in 2004, what was the city’s review process? Given that 8 of 8 historic appeals to the City Council have been granted, it appears that the review process, at least with regard to historic preservation, bordered on historic preservation malpractice.
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